Author: Agne

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP): EHRA is looking for a consultant to do a regional analysis of the legal frameworks around drug checking services

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RFP NumberEHRA-04-14
RFP TitleСonsultancy. Regional analysis on drug checking
RFP Closing Date and time:23:59 EET on April 21, 2022
Proposal Submission Address:info@harmreductioneurasia.org

 Background

Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) is a non-for-profit public membership-based organization uniting harm reduction activists and organisations from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CEECA) with its mission to actively unite and support communities and civil societies to ensure the rights and freedoms, health, and well-being of people who use psychoactive substances in the CEECA region.

EHRA as a part of the International Harm Reduction Consortium project is looking for a consultant to do a regional analysis of the legal frameworks around drug checking services. Drug checking (also known as pill testing) is an evidence-informed harm reduction tool, that allows people who use drugs to help identify the substance they intend to take, and to make more informed and safer decisions about their consumption.

In the last few years, discussions about the need for the introduction of drug checking services in CEECA region countries gained momentum. It is mainly related with a high prevalence of new psychoactive substances and other dangerous adulterants, such as fentanyl. Only few countries in CEECA region have drug checking service (in most cases – those are individual organizational initiatives, rather than officially approved service). In some countries of the region (i.e. Slovenia) drug samples are collected at info points and tested in the National Forensic Laboratories, in some other countries (i.e. Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, Poland) drug samples are tested with colorimetric/ reagent tests. But in most countries of the region such a service doesn’t exist at all. Mainly because of the existing repressive laws, lack of political will and small financing for harm reduction services.

The aim of this consultancy is to analyze main legal, social, financial and other challenges and obstacles to initiate provision of drug checking services in CEECA region and prepare a report with recommendations on possible ways to overcome the obstacles (based on existing best practices).

Objectives of the consultancy:

  • To organize a regional call with EHRA members to identify main legal, social, financial and other challenges and obstacles to start provision of drug checking services in CEECA region.
  • To make an in-depth analysis of documents and evidence identified during regional call, which create key challenges and obstacles to start provision of drug checking services in CEECA region.
  • To prepare recommendations for each identified obstacle/ challenge, based on the provision of existing drug checking services in the world.
  • To prepare a regional report, which is comprised of analysis of challenges and obstacles, and suggested recommendations on how to possibly overcome these challenges and obstacles.
  • To participate in the regional webinar, where the final report will be presented to a wider audience (possibly also to the decision makers).

Proposed timeline:

All activities should be completed by 31st July, 2022.

 Evaluation Criteria

Submitted applications will be evaluated by the evaluation panel of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association.

A two-stage procedure will be utilized in evaluating the proposals:

  • evaluation of the previous experience (portfolio) via technical criteria – 80% in total evaluation;
  • comparison of the costs (best value for money) – 20% in total evaluation.

Cost evaluation is only undertaken for technical submissions that score a minimum 80 points out of a maximum of 100 as a requirement to pass the technical evaluation. A proposal which fails to achieve the minimum technical threshold will not be considered further.

 To assess submitted applications, the following technical criteria will be used (80%) (maximum possible number of points is 100):

Evaluation criteria:

Points

Work experience by providing services for people who use drugs

30

Work experience by involving peer-to-peer workers in the provision of harm reduction services for people who use drugs

40

Realistic and justified budget

30

Maximum possible number of points

 100

Cost proposal (20%): EHRA will allocate same importance to the provided portfolio and recorded experience as to the cost of the services. The cost proposal will be evaluated in terms of best value-for money to EHRA in EUR, price and other factors considered

Condition

This announcement and its attachments shall not be construed as a contract or a commitment of any kind. This request for proposals in no way obligates EHRA to award a contract, nor does it commit EHRA to pay any cost incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals.

How to apply

To be eligible as a EHRA consultant, any organization or individual must comply with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association Code of Ethics which you can find at the following link: https://old.harmreductioneurasia.org/ehra-code-of-ethics/

Applicants must submit the following documents:

– CV,

– Letter of Interest.

The CV and Letter of Interest should clearly reflect the competency of the candidate necessary to complete this task, as well as include the proposed number of working days for each objective, cost and timing of their implementation. Please, also add to your Letter of Interest relevant examples of your work in analyzing public health issues in few countries and preparing recommendations for the civil society advocacy.

Please submit your proposal to the info@harmreductioneurasia.org .

In the subject line of your e-mail please indicate the RFP number, title “Сonsultancy. Regional analysis on drug checking and your name”.  Otherwise, the application will not be considered.

General terms

Interested consultants should pay attention to the following conditions:

  • EHRA will sign an agreement with the winner of the competitive selection. The contract will define a detailed work plan and payment terms.
  • EHRA reserves the right (but does not commit itself to obligations) to enter into negotiations with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications or additional information, as well as to agree on the timing of work.
  • The winner must confirm his/her daily rate before signing of the agreement.
  • Results will be announced by 26th April 2022. Each candidate will be contacted individually.
  • Any questions regarding the participation should be sent to eliza@harmreductioneurasia.org till April 20, 2022.

Online course: “Sustainability and Survival: Resilience for civil society organizations working with key populations in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia”

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EHRA invites civil society and community organizations working with key population groups to apply for the online course: “Sustainability and Survival: Resilience for civil society organizations working with key populations in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia”.

This collaborative and interactive skills development course is specifically designed for non-profit, civil society and community-based organizations from countries of the CECCA region, that advocate and/or provide direct services for key populations.  The course will help participants to acquire skills to build more diversified and sustainable funding model and confidence for organizational resilience. By the end of this course, participants are expected to be better equipped to the challenges of the current and future evolving political and funding environment.

Specifically, the course will support you in:

·        Strengthening the effectiveness and resilience of your organization;

·        Development of the strategy and plan for sustainability and piloting specific income generation approaches;

·        Ensuring that your income generation streams and targets are aligned with organizational strategy, and respond to the current funding environment that you are facing;

·        Comparing the characteristics of a range of new income sources and analyzing their potential fit for your organization (e.g. crowdfunding, social enterprise, membership models, social contracting);

·        Facilitation of creative approaches to income generation with your colleagues.

The course offers the chance to join three 3-hour live and interactive online training workshops which will take place on May 16, 19 and 24, to view a series of webinars in your own time, and to undertake exercises to embed the learning between events. You will also have a mentor, who will be able to support you to practice and implement the learning, through a project of your choosing. Certificates will be issued to those that complete the course.

The course will be delivered in English and Russian language.

Authors of the course:  Anna Sarang, Dermott McDonald, Rachel Haynes, and Victoria Ireland.

Trainers of the course: Maria Plotko (EHRA) and Anna Sarang

Course materials could be found HERE.

Who can apply? The programme is open to officially registered civil society / community-based organizations working with or for key communities (people who use drugs, women from KP groups, men who have sex with men, trans* people, young people from KP groups, LGBTQI+, sex workers) or people living with HIV, operating in one of 29 CEECA countries.

Participants must be staff members that have been involved in one or more income generation activities of the organization, able to commit to the course in May and speak and write in Russian or English.

If you would like to participate, please complete this online survey by April 29. We will be letting you know if you have a place by  May 2, 2022.

PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the course is free. The number of seats is limited to 10 organizations, 2 people from each organization (program and financial). The selection of participants will be on competitive bases, based on the quality of completed applications. Filling out the online survey does not guarantee participation in the course. We will inform you about enrolment in the group by May 2, 2022.

The course is delivered in the framework of the Eurasian Regional Consortium project  “Moving Together Towards Quality and Equality: Improved Sustainable Services for ISPs in EECA”  financed by the Robert Carr civil society Networks Fund (RCF). The Eurasian Regional Consortium joins the efforts of Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM), Eurasian Women’s AIDS Network (EWNA), Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) and movement that unites teenagers from the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia TEENERGIZER to effectively address the lack of financial sustainability in prevention, treatment, care and support programs for the key populations vulnerable in terms of their rights violation and the risk of HI

EHRA is looking for a Project Assistant to start work immediately

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Call open until the qualified assistant is recruited

EXPECTED START DATE: ASAP

JOB TYPE: permanent, full time

JOB LOCATION: Vilnius, Lithuania

COMPENSATION:  Netto salary is up to 850 euro, depending on qualifications and experience

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY

Assistant is responsible for supporting projects implementation, ensuring quality and results by:

  • Providing support to projects implementation, guaranteeing quality, efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Supporting planning, monitoring and evaluation activities of the projects, in articulation with the Manager/ Program Team Lead.

Coordinating and organizing day-to-day programmatic administration activities of the EHRA Program team and supporting program staff.

TASKS:

  • Provide administrative and logistical support for project managers and officers;
  • Assist assigned managers and program team members by maintaining calendars, receiving and composing communications as correspondence, and replies to inquiries;
  • Assist in the elaboration of project work plans, reports and other program materials. Draft contracts, TORs and other documents with direction from manager/officer;
  • Process financial documents including contracts, expense reports, invoices, etc.;
  • Assist managers /officers in organizing meetings and events: draft agenda, communication with participants, writing minutes, etc. Work with and maintains data filing for events;
  • Liaise and communicate with project consultants, if necessary, under direction of manager/officer;
  • Conduct research and provide support to one or more staff members in regard to project and programmatic efforts;
  • Assist in preparation tender reports and announcements;
  • Support to follow-up on tendering process: communication with participants, etc;
  • Perform any other tasks assigned by the managers and officers .

QUALIFICATIONS FOR POSITION

  • University degree, preferably in administration, social sciences, international relations, law or related area
  • A minimum of 2 years of relevant, practical working experience as assistant or in administration of projects
  • Good command of English and Russian both oral and written (knowledge of other languages is a plus).
  • Experience and comfort working with diverse communities (people who use drugs, sex workers, LGBTIQ+, people living with HIV etc.) will be considered as an advantage.
  • Experience in the areas of Human Rights, Public Security or related subjects will be considered as an advantage.
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.).

Interested candidates should provide:

  • updated CV outlining specific relevant experience and two references.
  • a short cover letter indicating suitability for the position.

Documents should be sent to: info@harmreductioneurasia.org.

Interviews will be done on a rolling basis.

Only shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

Practical Information for Ukrainian Refugees Entering Italy

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Information on how to enter Italy can be found here:

If you arrive without ID, Ukrainian embassy in Italy will help to sort out necessary documents: Головна | Посольство України в Італійській Республіці, в Республіці Мальта та в Республіці Сан Марино (за сумісництвом) (mfa.gov.ua)

You need to register your presence when arrive to Italy. More information can be found here:

Information on free transportation from boarders can be found here:

Travel with “Itabus” is free for people with Ukrainian IDs.  

To get assistance in finding accommodation contact local Prefettura:

You can also use the following sites to look for accommodation:

About healthcare for foreign nationals:

http://www.pratomigranti.it/en/vivere/salute/assistenza-stranieri/pagina132.html.

To obtain STP card “ISI – Informazione Salute Immigrati”

At the point of entry to Italy the following health services will be guaranteed:

  • administration of anti Covid-19, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio vaccines;
  • optional administration of measles vaccine, mumps, rubella vaccines and tuberculosis screening test, as well as other vaccinations, following an evaluation of health authorities.

More information can be found here:

Food and clothes can be received from Caritas Italiana. Locations can be found here:

You can also request assistance from local government:

Find information about harm reduction organisations in Italy here:

or download Trip App:

Available OST medication include: Methadone solution/syrup, Buprenorphine, Buprenorphine/naloxone. After registering with Prefettura you should be able to receive OST from SerD. List of providers by region can be found here:

ID or passport are required to receive ART, plus you need to register your presence in the country to Prefettura.

List of providers by region can be found here:

Additional useful information:

Click here to download PDF version of this page

Practical Information for Ukrainian Refugees Entering Romania

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Help-line of the Romanian Border Police in Ukrainian language: +40219590

Information on transportation from borders can be found here:

Solidarity call centre 0377300300

ARAS provides 8 places in a shelter for people living with HIV and other vulnerable persons: https://www.facebook.com/ARASRomania
ACCEPT provides shelter for LGBTQI https://www.acceptromania.ro

Information on where to receive food or clothes can be found here: https://dopomoha.ro/uk

ARAS- Romanian Association against AIDS. More information can be found here: www.arasnet.ro

REGINA MARIA Healthcare Network Contact Center 021 9268

https://www.reginamaria.ro/servicii-medicale-gratuite-pentru-cetatenii-ucraineni

Only methadone is available in Romania. 

In order to receive the treatment a person will need an identity card/passport. 

ARAS – methadone substitution treatment: Cristina Fierbinteanu, +40741636940

In order to receive the treatment a person will an identity card/ Passport. 

ARAS can assist in accessing ART treatment: Mihai Lixandru: +40742016592

https://www.facebook.com/ARASRomania

Click here to download PDF version of this page

Practical Information for Ukrainian Refugees Entering Hungary

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Information on how to enter Hungary can be found here : 

In Russian:

In Ukrainian:

Free solidarity tickets for The Hungarian Railways (MAV) are available for Ukrainians with ID.

More information and timetables can be found here:

Upon arrival, refugees are offered to stay in Hungary and transported to refugee shelters if agreed. Alternatively, Ukrainians can leave Hungary and travel further to the West.

There are no shelters in Hungary that provide services specifically to key populations. However exclusions can apply for certain situations (e.g. pregnant woman with drug dependency) and it can be arranged.

People with asylum status are eligible for general health care free of charge. However, the National Health Insurance Fund is now working on a system for those on ART. 

Offices of most of the charity organisations helping refugees at the border and at all railway stations in Budapest.

Information on Harm reduction organisations that operate in Hungary can be found here:

Information on how to get psychological counselling for Ukrainian citizens can be found here:

Methadone – free of charge.

  • INDIT, to contact Dr. János Szemelyácz,  +36309590720 
  • Gyula Nyírő Hospital (Budapest) – only liquid methadone. To contact Tünde Szabó,+36303040112

Suboxone – not covered by health insurance but can be purchased in pharmacies. Prescriptions are available in Budapest. To contact Dr. József Csorba, drcsojoko@gmail.com

To receive OST in Hungary a written certificate from doctors is needed confirming:

  1. a) you were enrolled in OST program;
  2. b) the medication you were on;
  3. c) the dosage you received. 

In most cases medical staff do not speak Russian/Ukrainian, they speak some English – but a translator is needed to assist. There are volunteer translators who can be contacted for assistance.

  • Ilona Daboczy, Russian, Ukrainian – Hungarian, +36303584512
  • Agnes Sulla, Russian-Hungarian, +36207751638
  • Zsolt Halmos, Russian-Hungarian, +36702456893
  • Vladislav Tóth, Russia, Ukrainian – Hungarian,+36702205795
  • Jana Zanoz, Russian – Hungarian, +36703892180

 

Click here to download PDF version of this page

Practical Information for Ukrainian Refugees Entering Czech Republic

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List of Regional Assistance Centers to assist Ukrainians: 

Citizens of Ukraine can call information line: +420 974801802 (open 24 hours a day)

Ukrainians can use evacuation trains from the border going to Prague. 

Also these operators allow Ukrainians to travel free of charge in their trains:

Need for housing can be registered with the following organizations:

Care without insurance: 

Information and locations for Food banks can be found here:

Prague:

Brno:

Moravia region:

Information about facilities providing treatment, counselling and prevention in the field of addiction in Czechia can be found here:

Online search engine of all kind of services for PWUD in Prague:

Information on how to get psychological assistance for Ukrainian citizens can be found here:

OST is free of charge, in case a person has health insurance. Passport or ID should be provided to receive OST. Both, buprenorphine and methadone are available for opioid users and Methylphenidate is available for crystal meth users.

Information about access to ART in Czechia  can be found here: 

Also you can call the information line for Ukrainians :

+420 974 801 802 

“Caritas” of Czechia provides information for Ukrainians:

+420 731 432 431

Click here to download PDF version of this page
Drop-in centers and outreach programs
Assistance for people with addiction in Czech Republic

Practical Information for Ukrainian Refugees Entering Lithuania

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Or contact Migration Department by phone +370 52717112 or email info@migracija.gov.lt

Transportation from borders is organised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Please contact by phone +370 52393999 or by email: logistikaua@sumin.lt

Ukrainians who can provide their ID can travel for free by train in Lithuania. More information:

Find free accommodation in Lithuania:

Ukrainians are guaranteed emergency medical care, prenatal care, childbirth, and other essential level I, II and III health care services, which, if not provided, could lead to a deterioration of health to the point of requiring emergency medical services.

Health Insurance Funds can be contacted by email: info@vlk.lt or phone +370 52322222.

Also, free Covid-19 vaccination is available for all Ukrainian refugees. Registration: +370 66011808.

Food can be provided by Maisto bankas. More information to be found here:

The Order of Malta also offers food and clothes for Ukrainians.

More information can be provided by phone +370 60023220 or can be found here:

Caritas of the Vilnius Archdiocese (humanitarian aid):

Kalvarijų str. 39, Vilnius, ph. +370 67324225, e-mail: kulturunamai@vilnius.caritas.lt

Harm reduction organisations that provide their services in Lithuania:

  • Demetra (HIV testing and harm reduction supplies)

Address: Vilnius, Kauno g. 6, demetra@demetra.lt; +370 68710655

  • Support foundation “RIGRA” can provide information on HIV treatment, harm reduction supplies and OST services.

Address: Kaunas, Partizanų st. 5, rigra@gmail.com +370 68717462, +370 67593566

Registration to OST clinic +37052137274

Free psychological support for Ukrainians:

Lithuanian Red Cross  offers humanitarian aid, information and also restoration of family ties.

Address: Juozapavičiaus st. 10A, Vilnius, ph. +370 52127322, e-mail info@redcross.lt, www.redcross.lt

For the OST treatment for Ukrainians contact The Centre for Addictive Disorders.

Contact person: ausra.sirvinskiene@rplc or emilis.subata@rplc.lt; +370 52137274

Methadone and Buprenorphine both are compensated by the state for Ukrainian nationals.

For assistance with accessing ART contact:

  • Demetra. Address: Vilnius, Kauno g. 6, demetra@demetra.lt; +370 68710655
  • Support foundation “RIGRA”. Address: Kaunas, Partizanų st. 5, rigra@gmail.com +370 68717462, +370 67593566
Click here to download PDF version of this page

Human rights violations of PWUD related with barriers to access treatment and other health services during Covid-19 in North Macedonia

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Interview with Milka Spirovska, NGO “HOPS”, North Macedonia.

In 2021 “HOPS” implemented a small grant within “We Will Not End AIDS Without Harm Reduction” project framework.

Which human rights violations of people who use drugs you observed during Covid-19 times?

People who use drugs continuously face numerous violations of rights and discrimination. During the pandemic caused by Covid-19, in addition to the violation of their rights in the field of health care, people who use drugs also faced violation of their social rights, labor rights, family rights, protection from domestic violence, etc.

Regarding the violation of social protection rights, people who use drugs faced various problems: lack of information about the changes in rules, procedures that often occurred as a result of frequent changes in the epidemiological situation, inaccessibility to representatives from the competent institutions, slow decision making on their cases (people who use drugs have been waiting for months for institutions to respond to their requests for exercising the right to guaranteed minimum assistance, financial compensation for assistance and care from another person, education allowance etc.) The most serious identified problem is the rejection of their claims for social protection rights that they have been using for years.

They also faced violation of worker’s rights. People who use drugs, who have been employed face the loss of their jobs or the non – renewal of their expired contracts, and in particular the inability to earn for a living or those who were part of the informal economy.

Regarding the violation of family rights, they faced the deprivation of their minor children by the Centers for Social Work due to the fact that they are being treated for addiction with substitution therapy.

There were also cases of domestic violence in which the rights of people who use drugs were not protected by the competent institutions. The competent institutions did not act upon the reports with the explanation that there are private family matters, or initiate proceedings against them due to disturbance of public order and peace.

How you supported people whose rights were violated within this project (small grant)?

For more than 20 years, HOPS has been committed to promoting, respecting and protecting human rights and freedoms in order to improve the health and socio – economic status of marginalized communities, especially people who use drugs and sex workers, through equal access to services, community building, capacity building, research, analysis and advocacy. In its activities, it primarily implements its activities in order to improve the status of people who use drugs and sex workers, as well as all other marginalized groups in society.

This project has enabled us to help people who use drugs, including women who use drugs, to have better access to treatment and other health services by providing free legal aid. Through the reported case, the legal advisors identified cases of violations of rights in the field of health care and motivated the clients to report the cases to the competent institutions and bodies.

Two clients were motivated to report their cases. In both cases, the legal advisor for the clients prepared complaints to the Ombudsman. In other cases, clients were not sufficiently motivated to report their cases due to distrust of the system and institutions.

Through the online thematic discussion in which people from state institutions took part and the three videos that we made within this project, which contained personal stories of violations of rights in the field of health care of our clients, we saw the problems that are facing people who use drugs, and which problems were highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In some countries, Covid-19 created loads of challenges not only for people who use drugs, but also for the civil society organizations/ service providers. Could you please tell us, what new challenges did you face because of Covid-19?

The Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge for both our clients and our organization. Adhering to the measures and recommendations of the Government and the Protocol for organizing the work of HOPS in an emergency caused by Covid-19, HOPS reorganized the work in a way that the employees had been working from home. The exception was the field workers who performed field activities. Тhey were constantly at the front and provided our clients with the necessary equipment, but they were protected with appropriate equipment (protective gloves and masks, disinfectants), in order to protect their health and the health of our clients. The clients were contacted by phone and were continuously informed about the measures, recommendations and conclusions of the Government, and in emergencies where they needed help from our employees, they received the appropriate services.

One of your activities was a launch of awareness raising campaign for improving health rights of PWUD by promoting the 3 short videos with people stories. How the public and stakeholders reacted to this campaign?

We faced a challenge in motivating clients to tell their stories. It is very difficult to motivate clients who have faced violations of rights to speak publicly about their problems and it is even more difficult to report cases to the competent institutions, due to, as I mentioned above, their distrust of the system and institutions. However, videos were promoted on the HOPS website, social media Facebook and Instagram and YouTube and we had the uploaded videos viewed. We believe that we have reached the public and we have successfully reached the goal of the planned activity.